Report: Louisville to join ACC

When word started to get out that Clemson and Florida State were pushing for the Atlantic Coast Conference to add Louisville rather than UConn in the latest raid of the beleaguered Big East, you kind of figured the Huskies would be left on the outside looking in once again.

With countless media outlets reporting that the ACC has voted to accept Louisville, that is exactly what happened.

Let's be honest, football is what drives the constantly changing conference landscape and that was what was behind Clemson's and Florida State's opposition to adding UConn.

Not only is UConn just 10-13 over the last two seasons but when the Huskies went to the Fiesta Bowl following the 2010 season, the UConn fan turnout was rather weak. Louisville was the preseason pick to the win the Big East and even with last week's loss to UConn, the Cardinals to claim the Big East' BCS bowl slot with a win over Rutgers tomorrow.

If there is a silver lining it is that the ACC may not be done yet. There were reports that FSU and Clemson were ready to leave if the ACC added only UConn so you have to wonder if this is a case of where there is smoke, there is fire.

One aspect that can't be overlooked is whether there is lingering resentment following then Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal's lawsuit against the ACC.

So while Louisville becomes the latest Big East school to abandon ship, the league further cemented itself as a mid-major football conference with the additions of Tulane (in all sports) and East Carolina (currently for football only).

UConn football coach Paul Pasqualoni was asked about the realignment issue at yesterday's press conference and here's what he had to say.


"(It) is not something we can control or something right now affects us. We have so much with this game trying to get ready to play Cincinnati, one of the top-level teams in our league. We just came off a very physical game, we had a very physical game before that. We are just trying to take care of our own business. This conference realignment thing, pretty soon it is going to be settled. Sooner or later it is going to be settled. Whenever that is it is and I know the people here, Susan Herbst and Warde Manuel are going to do everything they can to do what is in the best interest in the University of Connecticut. I know the Board of Trustees will do that. I like the people we have a lot and have a lot of confidence in them, people are on top of this making the decisions and doing those things."